New research shows aged care nursing not a desired career path

A worldwide crisis is emerging as the nursing workforce interested in caring for older people diminishes at the same time as populations are ageing, according to new research by a Southern Cross University academic.

The longitudinal study by Associate Professor John Stevens from the University’s School of Health and Human Sciences replicates one done nearly two decades ago that showed nurses do not want to work with older people.

“Despite government and nursing profession reforms and initiatives to make caring for older people more attractive, the results are identical in every way to the 1992-95 study,” Professor Stevens said.

“Australia is about 10,000 Registered Nurses (RN) short. Worldwide, the figure is a staggering three million RNs. Recruitment into aged-care facilities and the acute care services is a real problem.”

The paper, ‘Student nurses’ career preferences for working with older people: A replicated longitudinal survey’, appears in the International Journal of Nursing Studies.

Professor Stevens said: “It seems the professional socialisation of these students aligns with a broader culture of devaluing older people and the work associated with them.

“Typical comments were, ‘you don’t get to hone your skills in aged care’ and ‘nursing homes are horrible places to work where you get paid a lot less for doing more work’.”

The results show eight per cent of the students began their Bachelor of Nursing degrees wanting to work with older people. Overall the ranking of ‘working with older people’ for commencing students was seven out of 10.

But this ranking decreased throughout the course to ultimately become the least desired career choice of graduating nurses, with only three of the 150 participants stating a desire to work with older people.

There was a belief among students, Professor Stevens said, that working with older people would have a negative effect on their careers, in contrast to intensive care nursing which was seen as a pathway to a successful career.

“In reality, working in aged care is an incredibly rewarding work and the skills required are just as complex and far more diverse than required in ICU,” said Professor Stevens.

“Ironically because of a rapidly ageing population, working with older people has unlimited potential for an autonomous, professional career while the work of nurses in ICU is mostly directed by doctors. Yet registered nurses working in aged care are paid on average 20 per cent less than nurses working in public hospitals.”

Professors Stevens said the research had far-reaching implications.

“Given the inevitable ageing of our population and the increased demand for related health and aged care services, these findings highlight we have entered a new age.

“I call it the ‘age of age’ paradox. It begs the question, who will be left with the job to care for us when we can’t care for ourselves?”
Photo: A new study shows nurses do not want to work with older people.